Today Cora Pueyo joins Pastor Walton to discuss coming to know Christ, learning to forgive, and growing through 40 years of ministry at Harvest Baptist Church.
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Transcript
Chris Harper: Welcome to Harvest Time. My name is Chris Harper, and our host on this program is Pastor Gary Walton, the lead pastor of Harvest Baptist Church. Every week, we spend these twenty five minutes together telling you the stories of our church by interviewing our members and other friends of the ministry. We have two services at Harvest every week. The first at 08:45AM, the second at 10:45AM Sunday.
We have Japanese and Korean translation during the 10:45AM service, and that’s also when we livestream at hbcguam.org. Hbcguam.org. This week, the third message from seven habits of highly effective churches from Revelation 2:12-17 this week, the church at Pergamos, truth without compromise. Let’s begin today’s Harvest Time by welcoming Pastor Gary Walton. Hi, pastor.
Gary Walton: Hey. Hafa adai, Chris. We have been beginning an incredible journey through the teaching of Jesus, in Revelation two and three, and I would love to have you come join us. Chris mentioned that we’re gonna be in the third message on that series talking about the Church of Pergamos. I said the word journey because I really we really feel like it is.
It’s a journey of our church discovering, studying what Jesus’ evaluation of the churches of his time or at least the churches in Asia Minor, and there’s there’s so much practical applications for us. And not only are we studying them on Sunday mornings, but then we’re coming back and talking about them in our community groups. A lot of discussion actually happening, across our church about, what does this look like? How does this affect me in, 2026, and how does this affect our church? And so it’s really a a a real incredible journey of a study, and we’d like to invite you to come and be part of it.
You’ll I think you’ll find a place where God’s word is lifted up. It’s gonna be the focus of what we’re doing, where, the Holy Spirit’s presence is genuine. You’ll feel a warm welcome of the body together. And so, if you don’t have a church home here in Guam, we’d love to invite you to come and and, experience the worship service and really come and and, we hope that you’ll hear from God as you as you join with us. I’m excited to have Mrs. Cora Pueyo with us, at Harvest Time, and actually her story is, about the impact of Harvest over a long time.
Cora has been, a part of Harvest for forty years. Right, Cora?
Cora Pueyo: Yes.
Gary Walton: Yeah. Which is hard to believe. I wanna ask you about, that whole story here in a minute, but, became a believer, her and her husband, back in 1986 and then baptized and joined the church later, her family’s all here. We’ll get to all of that. But, Cora, first of all, thank you for joining us on harvest time.
Cora Pueyo: Thank you, and good morning, everyone.
Gary Walton: As you look back on your life, just tell us a little bit about your story. Where’d you grow up? What was your family like as you’re growing up?
Cora Pueyo: Okay. I was growing up as a Catholic when I was in The Philippines. I came here in Guam in 1981. So, at first, I’ve been working to different kind of company until I met Miss Norma Macapinlac, which is part of Harvest Christian, Harvest Baptist Church also. She’s our store manager in that time.
I worked with a company that she’s working also as an office manager. So that time, I didn’t know that she’s hosting a Bible study in their house. So one time she asked me, Girl, you want to join with us in the Bible study? So I said, I try, okay, I’ll go to your house. And I noticed that there are only four families in the session.
And I forgot who’s the pastor that’s teaching at I remember Pastor at that time, he also substituted when teaching the Bible study. In that time, until I know that I’ve been saved in 1986, I remember in 06/06/1986. And I started attending the Harvest Baptist Church. During that time, we were only in concert hall. Our church is just But now it’s really big, and it was
Gary Walton: Well, that’s really amazing. So, the church would have been about ten years old at that time, because we just celebrated fifty years.
Cora Pueyo: Fifty years.
Gary Walton: And if it’s in June, that means we’re coming up on the forty year anniversary of your salvation. Yes. Wow, that’s really great.
Cora Pueyo: That’s why, yeah.
Gary Walton: What was going on in your life at that time? Was it the testimony of Norma inviting you to Jesus? What do you remember about that time that helped you come to Jesus?
Cora Pueyo: That time I remember, because I never read the Bible. We just go to the church and then just listen to the priests, and you know, no idea about the Bible. So when I started attending the Bible study, I learned that to accept Jesus as my personal Savior. And there’s lots of changes in my life. Before, I never forgave anybody who commit anything to me.
Never, I never Even my sister, if they get mad to me, I never talk to them in a week or something like that. But when I was closer to God, everything is changed. So I convinced my kids, they’re all saved also because they were, and my daughter always attended the trip going to Micronesia and she attended all those kids.
Gary Walton: That’s so great. Yeah. How about your husband, Sam? Was he a believer or did
Cora Pueyo: Yeah. Sam is a believer. Before, he is a Seventh day Adventist, but when he arrived here and we both attended the Bible study, Samson is a very generous man. We have a construction company. He helped, I think, three churches to build a church.
The one in Faith Baptist Church, the one Pastor Elmer, yeah, when they started, because he has a construction, he helped to build even the one in Pastor Dan. Yeah. He’s the one also who built that church.
Gary Walton: Oh, that’s great, I didn’t know that. Wow. He had a construction company for many years. And you were an accountant, right? Yes.
In the company and then outside the company, right?
Cora Pueyo: Yes, it’s 1998, the construction. So, he started. So, he helped to build, to start, to build a church.
Gary Walton: Wow.
Cora Pueyo: That’s why he has an appreciation. Then also in The Philippines, the Olivares, they have a church there.
Gary Walton: Yeah, I’ve been there.
Cora Pueyo: Oh, Yeah, that one, he’s the one who started the foundation.
Gary Walton: Wow, okay. Yeah, I’ve been to that building with the pastor that’s there.
Cora Pueyo: Since that.
Gary Walton: That’s great.
Cora Pueyo: That’s why I said. That’s why sometimes when we’re attending the service, I know he’s tired. Sometimes you cannot control when you close your eyes, but you’re listening. I always pinched on this side. I said, Sam, you’re sleepy.
He said, I’m not sleepy.
Gary Walton: He’s praying.
Cora Pueyo: I’m concentrating, I’ve just closed my eyes. I said, you’re the one who’s not listening. You’re always bothering me. I I always ask me, what’s the sermon today? Uh-huh.
You don’t know because you’re not paying attention.
Gary Walton: Cora, you were, I think, baptized, became a member at Harvest not long after that. Yes. Maybe in
Cora Pueyo: A week, only a week. Okay. Right after I was saved, I was baptized there in the old chapel.
Gary Walton: Sure, sure. What did that step mean to you at that time, and how did your faith begin to grow in those early years?
Cora Pueyo: I’m trying to convince some friends. Sometimes I give testimony to them, how it changed to myself. So, yeah, there’s lots that you know, I have some I brought in the church. Don’t remember anymore those because it’s been around forty years. Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, but until now, I still, you know, sharing my testimony to them.
Gary Walton: Yeah, that’s great.
Cora Pueyo: Yeah.
Gary Walton: Well, you’ve been a part of Harvest for decades now.
Cora Pueyo: Yeah.
Gary Walton: If you were to think about how being a member and the church family has shaped your walk with the Lord over the years, what would you say?
Cora Pueyo: If you really believe, the Lord is always with you. You know, how many times that I already suffer on my sickness. But I’ve been so strong because of my belief that the Lord will not leave or forsake me. All the prayers of my friends, the Church, and my family make me stronger. My belief is really number one.
Gary Walton: That’s so good. And the church had, you know, impact on, really, your whole family. You were telling us just before, your four you have four children, right?
Cora Pueyo: Yes.
Gary Walton: All adults now.
Cora Pueyo: Uh-huh.
Gary Walton: And each of them went to the academy from kindergarten through graduation, right?
Cora Pueyo: Yes. Uh-huh.
Gary Walton: All four of your kids, yeah. So what did that mean for your family?
Cora Pueyo: What I believe, when they grow up in a Christian school, I saw their attitude, their belief also. I never, like others, you always have problem with them, something like that. But, you know, they’re they’re good, and they take care of you. Yeah.
Gary Walton: That’s so good, Cora. Looking back on these years, forty years, nearly forty years now of walking with Jesus and following him as a as a as a Christian, as a as a disciple of Jesus, are there any particular seasons, either joyful or challenging, where your faith was especially tested or strengthened?
Cora Pueyo: It’s really hard. I suffer also. It’s really the time that I live. I tried to quit Harvest because it’s really very painful for me.
Gary Walton: Okay, sure.
Cora Pueyo: So, that one, I didn’t put it on my mind. What I put in my head is I’m not coming to church because of the people. I’m coming to church because of the Lord. That’s what I believe in myself. So even others, other friends that came from here, they always say something to I said, you know, you’re not looking on the people, on the person.
You’re looking your yourself to give it to the Lord.
Gary Walton: Yeah. Cora, thanks for sharing that. You know, sometimes even in a church, even in a good church, people are human, and sometimes things happen in life of church where we get hurt.
Cora Pueyo: Yes.
Gary Walton: And you’re right. I think sometimes Satan uses those human offenses Yes. To cause us to run away from the church.
Cora Pueyo: Yes. Uh-huh.
Gary Walton: And and rather than, you know, figure out how to resolve the, you know, the conflict, to seek forgiveness for the hurts. And that can happen in churches, too. And I really love your perspective that God brought to you, which is, I’m going to keep my eyes on Jesus, I’m going to keep pursuing Him, and allow Him to help to heal wounds.
Cora Pueyo: Yes. And, yeah, I learned. That’s why I always have the book that was given to me, forgiveness. I have a book of forgiveness. So, even I don’t read it, I already put it in my heart.
Forgiveness is coming from the Lord.
Gary Walton: Amen, Cora. Well, it seems to be a theme for all of us, but I’m we’re hearing it a couple times in this conversation, how God used his word to bring this sense of forgiveness in your life. I know. You know, just from your earliest days, I mean, it’s it was hard to forgive people. God brought that in.
But even along the way, for us as humans, some sometimes we have hurts, and people hurt us. They do things. They say things. And in the church, you know, as believers, God gives us this gift of forgiveness that heals wounds and and resolves those conflicts, and actually, I think it’s really a sweet testimony. I’m really happy that you’re willing to share.
There were some seasons that were hard there.
Cora Pueyo: Yeah.
Gary Walton: But I I tried to keep my eyes on Jesus because the end of that is, you know, we’re already talking about this earlier, but, you know, you’re able to say now at this season of my life, all all of my my friends are you know, we talked about maybe moving off island for a while, and you missed it so much because the people that you love are here, you know, both in the church, and you have friends around Guam too, is that right? Yeah.
Cora Pueyo: It’s really hard. It’s really hard to be away from them. Even just talking in the phone, yeah. You know, when are we going out? Something like that.
It’s really happy.
Gary Walton: Miss Cora, your husband Sam passed away in 2016, is that right?
Cora Pueyo: Right,
Gary Walton: Is that the right time?
Cora Pueyo: It’s ten years already. This is February 2.
Gary Walton: Okay, yeah, it’s coming right up.
Cora Pueyo: I didn’t believe that, you know, that’s why I thought, you know, my husband, he saved two families. They almost have separated, divorced, because one of the houses that he built, he learned that the house is already done. And then he learned that husband and wife has a problem. They might divorce each other. You know what my husband did?
He tried to save the marriage. He did some testimony and some advice. He was able to save it.
Gary Walton: Wow.
Cora Pueyo: Yeah, he’s good in doing some testimony. That’s why, and then the other one is one of our members also. We tried to save their marriage. And now they’re happy together.
Gary Walton: Praise the Lord, yeah.
Cora Pueyo: And that’s why I said to some, You can be in the pastoral because you’re good you know, doing some testimony to other people.
Gary Walton: Well, again, that’s such a good picture. You’re right, there’s some pastoral gifts there, but that’s really how the church members should be towards each other, right? Yes. When we go through difficult seasons, it’s not only the pastors that help us, it’s my brothers and sisters that are walking with me that come along, and that’s, yeah, that’s fantastic wonderful, right?
Cora Pueyo: Yeah, maybe he’s talking to others also because when he passed away, I was shocked. When the wake in the lady of peace, I didn’t realize that that’s all those him.
Gary Walton: Yeah.
Cora Pueyo: It’s plenty before that I didn’t even realize that all is, you know, because every day is going to Sure. Yeah. Something like that.
Gary Walton: It’s a good representation of the impact that
Cora Pueyo: Of that influence show it to the
Gary Walton: had. Yeah.
Cora Pueyo: To the people. Yeah.
Gary Walton: I’m sure that was a hard season for you.
Cora Pueyo: Yes.
Gary Walton: How did God meet you, and how did how did your faith sustain you and your church family sustain you during that time, and even in the ten years after that?
Cora Pueyo: It’s like I know that I’m happy because some are with our Lord already. So it’s not very hard for me because I know the Lord is always with me. Something like that. That’s what I always, every time, every day, every time I leave the house, I never forget to pray. Even I woke up and before I sleep.
That’s my thing that I always do, I never forget.
Gary Walton: Well, you know, I come back to this a lot in Psalm 23, the end of that very beloved and well known passage, but it says, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, which is it’s it’s not necessarily talking about when I die. It’s talking about the shadow that the valley that death casts on us and and through our life. There are seasons when we have to walk through that valley. Yes. And what it says, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil because you are with me.
Yes. The presence of God is the powerful thing that both in our own passing when we all experience that valley, but even when we walk through that shadow, that death casts on those who have had loved ones, God is with us.
Cora Pueyo: Yes.
Gary Walton: He walks with us. And I know you were saying before that, you know, the the church family really is such a family for you, right? Yes. Those people help Yes. You to not be alone,
Cora Pueyo: Yeah.
Gary Walton: That’s great. For someone that’s listening today who might be newer in the faith or maybe they’re walking through loss, you know, like you did, what would you want them to know about God’s faithfulness over a lifetime?
Cora Pueyo: It’s like when you seek the Lord, it’s not just one time only. You have to really seek what you want and to be closer to God. Find a good church, and then you will meet people there that looks like you’re just one family. And you will feel that the Lord is with you always, something like that.
Gary Walton: I like it.
Cora Pueyo: Yeah. My favorite is Jeremiah 29:11. That because the Lord has plan for you. He will give you hope, not anything else. He always have a plan to ask every day, something like that.
Gary Walton: That’s a great verse, a hope filled verse.
Cora Pueyo: Often, yeah. That’s my, I have always have that verse on my table in front of my computer.
Gary Walton: The plans I have for you, declares the Lord.
Cora Pueyo: Yes.
Gary Walton: Yeah. Give you hope Hope and a
Cora Pueyo: and future.
Gary Walton: Yeah. Amen. Cora, thank you for sharing your testimony with us. It really is a blessing to hear of God’s faithfulness over the years Yes. Of, his seeking and reaching you, your husband Yeah.
Impact this had on your family. It’s a it’s a really cool testimony about the relationship of a family to a church over a long time.
Cora Pueyo: Yes.
Gary Walton: And and even, you know, in that, there’s there’s some seasons, there’s some disappointments, and some thrills, but God’s faithfulness through all of that, I think, is just such an encouragement. And, you personally, you know, you’re when you’re talking about forgiveness earlier, and you said, you know, when I first became a Christian, I had a, you know, a hard time forgiving. I couldn’t believe that. Really. I mean, I believe you.
Cora Pueyo: Yes. It’s really hard for me.
Gary Walton: Yeah. Well, I actually am really encouraged by that because what I see from you is just such a joyful, happy home and and life, and that doesn’t happen for somebody that’s lived their whole life not forgiving. If someone lives their whole life and doesn’t forgive, you actually end up being at the season of life and being bitter Yeah. Angry, upset. That’s it.
And I’ve seen
Cora Pueyo: I never smile before.
Gary Walton: I Well, that’s so surprising to me because you smile all the time.
Cora Pueyo: Yeah. Even at work, I talk to my officemate, Always smile, especially in the morning. Greeting somebody is, you know, is really make you happy whole day
Gary Walton: Yeah.
Cora Pueyo: Rather than being bitter.
Gary Walton: Well, I’m always happy to see you every Sunday morning sitting with some of your sis you know, your your yeah. Filipino sisters right there and others. Right?
Cora Pueyo: And neither and
Gary Walton: then Yeah. Well
Cora Pueyo: They already have a reserved seat.
Gary Walton: Yeah. We got your spots right there. But the reason I’m happy is because every time I see you, there’s a big smile. I know that you’re happy to be there. Yes.
You’ve been looking forward to that time in your with your church family worshiping God, and that heart that I see coming from you is such a blessing. So thank you for sharing with it publicly with us today, Cora.
Cora Pueyo: Thank you. Thank you for being a guest here.
Chris Harper: Well, and thank you for listening to Harvest Time. Of course, at this point in the program, we always wanna personally invite you again to services at Harvest Baptist Church. We meet at 08:45AM and 10:45AM every Sunday. Japanese and Korean translation also during the 10:45AM service. That’s when we broadcast the service live here on 88.1 FM and khmg.org.
We hope to see you this Sunday. Thanks again for listening to Harvest Time.